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The scene is laid in the house of Cephalus at the Piraeus; and

the whole dialogue is narrated by Socrates the day after it

actually took place to Timaeus, Hermocrates, Critias, and a

nameless person, who are introduced in the Timaeus.

BOOK I.

I went down yesterday to the Piraeus with Glaucon the son of

Ariston, that I might offer up my prayers to the goddess (Bendis,

the Thracian Artemis.); and also because I wanted to see in what

manner they would celebrate the festival, which was a new thing.

I was delighted with the procession of the inhabitants; but that

of the Thracians was equally, if not more, beautiful. When we had

finished our prayers and viewed the spectacle, we turned in the

direction of the city; and at that instant Polemarchus the son of

Cephalus chanced to catch sight of us from a distance as we were

starting on our way home, and told his servant to run and bid us

wait for him. The servant took hold of me by the cloak behind,

and said: Polemarchus desires you to wait.